BREAKING NEWS

BREAKING NEWS

Back In Business

On Saturday, Lisciandro’s Restaurant opened its doors again after being closed for nearly two weeks due to smoke damage.

When firefighters were called to a structure fire on North Main Street shortly before 7 p.m. on Jan. 5, the future for Lisciandro’s Restaurant and The Pub looked bleak. John Lisciandro, owner of Lisciandro’s Restaurant, had no way of knowing his restaurant would be opening up only a few weeks later as he watched firefighters battle with the fire.

“(This fire) was the most devastating thing I’ve ever seen,” Lisciandro had told The Post-Journal, fighting back tears. “Just the thought of being here all these years, and that it could be wiped out like that in a couple of hours (is devastating).”

However, as news of the fire spread, support poured in from the community. Slowly, small miracle after small miracle happened. A poor electrical connection near the entryway of The Pub caused the fire, and despite being just next door, Lisciandro’s Restaurant just had smoke damage.

Greg Lindquist, Jamestown Renaissance Corporation director, told Lisciandro he will receive money from the JRC to help with the cleanup and to improve the restaurant’s windows and awning. The insurance company worked with Lisciandro’s to help the restaurant get back on its feet.

“People even offered to come in and clean,” Lisciandro said.

The support didn’t just end there; local restaurants and stores in the area sent lunch up to the cleaning crews. With everyone’s help, Lisciandro’s was open again in 13 days.

“(It went) better then ever could be expected,” said Lisciandro, referring to when the restaurant reopened its doors again on Saturday.

“We had one of the best days we had in business … people came back who hadn’t been in here in two to three years.”

Flowers – from many people in the community – rested at the bar, balloons lit up the room and a green sign from a little girl named Bella sat proudly in front of the cash register.

“I just can’t get over the support we had from the community,” he said. “Many phone calls … it just blows your mind people think of you like that.”

Lisciandro’s Restaurant can be found at 207 N. Main St. in Jamestown. Its hours are 5:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, and 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.